Chapter 11
I bolt upright, my heart pounding in my chest. Being trapped in that peculiar dream room for what seemed like hours has left me unsettled. I had no idea how to rouse myself, and then, all at once, I felt as if I were falling.
My body jolts forward as my eyes snap open. Disoriented, I scan the room to ground myself. I am still in Elijah’s room, with him lying next to me.
“Are you alright?” he mutters, not fully awake.
“I had a strange dream.” I’m uncertain if it was truly a dream. It felt as though I’d been taken to some other realm. Sitting up, I accept that I’m awake for good now.
Elijah stirs slowly, clearly still drowsy, his eyes barely open. The hair at the back of his head sticks out wildly, almost like feathers. I stifle a laugh. He looks absolutely adorable in the morning.
“What’s so funny?” Elijah asks, letting out a yawn as he stretches his arms overhead. He glances over at me again, this time with more alertness in his gaze.
“It’s nothing,” I reply, though the grin on my face betrays me. Sharing a bed with someone else is a bit odd, but I find I don’t mind it.
Elijah squints at me, clearly unconvinced. “Did you have a weird dream or something?”
I recall the conversation from my dream. “Have you ever actually talked with your wolf while dreaming? Like, really communicated?”
Elijah pauses to rub his face. “I can’t say I have. Is that what happened to you?”
“I’m not sure. It didn’t feel like a dream. It was almost too vivid. I don’t know how to explain it,” I say, biting my lip.
“Has anything like that happened to you before?” Elijah asks, running his hand through his hair, which now looks less wild.
I shake my head. “The only other time was when I blacked out after being exposed to wolfsbane.”
“Maybe that set something off? That’s definitely something we could look into. Maybe someone else has had a similar experience.” Elijah looks down, lost in thought.
I decide not to mention the part about the unfamiliar voice in my dream. It seems important, but I feel like it’s something I need to figure out alone. If there’s another presence in my mind, maybe it’s linked to my mixed heritage, but I don’t know much about other supernatural beings. Werewolves usually keep to themselves to avoid complications.
Elijah yawns again and stretches out. “What time is it, anyway?”
I grab my phone to check. My eyes go wide. “It’s 5:15 already. I should start getting ready for work.” I begin freeing myself from the sheets and move to get out of bed.
Elijah’s eyes go wide as well. “You have to go in this early?”
I nod. “Coffee shops open up before dawn for the morning rush. It’s always busy at this hour. You can go back to sleep if you want.”
Elijah shakes his head. “I’m up now. Besides, you’ll need a lift. I’ll make sure someone comes by the coffee shop later today to keep an eye on you.”
I press my lips together at the thought. The idea of a bodyguard still makes me uneasy, but I’ve already agreed. I’m not about to take it back now. “Fine, but tell them to be discreet. If they draw too much attention, it could be trouble for both of us.”
“Rest assured. I’ll send the best person for the job. Go get ready, and I’ll come downstairs when I’m done?” Elijah’s smile reassures me.
I return his smile with a nod and quietly open his door. Since it’s still early, I don’t expect anyone else to be up. I tiptoe down the hall, careful not to wake anyone.
“Slipping out again?” Dr. Isabella’s voice calls from the top of the stairs, startling me. I hadn’t noticed her approach at all.
“No,” I respond quickly. “I just didn’t want to bother anyone. But I do need to get ready soon-I have work, and Elijah will be giving me a ride.”
“Good,” Dr. Isabella replies, sipping her coffee. “Elijah deserves someone who won’t just walk out on
him.”
Her words make my chest constrict, and I immediately feel the urge to defend myself. I don’t think it’s right for her to hold me responsible for what happened before. I keep quiet, deciding it’s not worth
arguing.
What she thinks doesn’t matter to me as long as Elijah isn’t upset, and I know my decisions were b
ased on what I believed was best at the time.
“I won’t leave without telling Elijah first,” I say, meeting Dr. Isabella’s gaze. I’m still unsure if I’ll stay, but if I do decide that this isn’t where I belong, I’ll at least tell Elijah face-to-face. He deserves that honesty. The idea of having that conversation makes my chest ache.
“I’ll remember that,” Dr. Isabella says, nodding before she walks past me.
Taking a steady breath, I try not to let her words affect me. I head to the guest room where I’m staying and start preparing for work. The clothes Emma lent me are nicer than what I usually wear for my job, and they’re much more comfortable too.
I make a mental note to thank her when I finally meet her. After dressing, I pull my hair back into a ponytail. There’s no time for a shower, and I dislike wearing my hair down if it’s not freshly washed. Once I’m ready, I head downstairs.
Elijah is already by the door waiting, and I hesitate as I spot him. He’s dressed simply-a t-shirt and jeans-but he looks fantastic. He’s glancing at his phone, and my eyes are drawn to his broad shoulders and long frame.
He eventually looks up and smiles when our eyes meet. “Are you ready?”
I blink a few times, realizing I’d been staring. “Yes!” I hurry down the stairs, and Elijah opens the door for me.
We walk to his car and climb in. The radio is on, but turned down low. As I look around, I notice how spotless and well-kept the car is, with sleek black leather everywhere. There isn’t a single bit of dust.
I wonder how he manages to keep it so pristine. I’ve never owned a car, but judging by how I maintain my apartment, I imagine if I ever had one, it would only stay this clean for a day.
“I’ll stick around for a little while until my replacement arrives,” Elijah says, breaking into my thoughts. “Hope you don’t mind.”
I glance at him, noticing how, even just driving, he looks so good that it makes my heart race. What’s going on with me? “That’s fine. The shop won’t open until six, though, so you can’t come in early with me.”
“No problem. I don’t mind waiting,” he says.
The rest of the drive passes in near total silence. It’s still early, and after falling asleep so late, my body begs for more sleep. Elijah stops the car next to the shop and shifts into park.
“I appreciate the lift,” I tell him, offering a grateful smile.
“I’m always happy to help make things easier for you.” I can tell he genuinely means what he says. My hand goes for the door handle, but Elijah speaks up again. “Would you want to go on that date with me this evening?”
